She is the Daughter of the Villainess in a Ridiculous Novel - Chapter 99

Around the time Melisa was highly anticipating the impending event, Idel was trying to regulate her irregular breathing.

It wasn’t common for Idel to be this nervous, but when she thought about it, it was only natural.

As much as Melisa looked forward to today, she, too, had been waiting for this moment.

“Lady Idel, the Duke will call for you soon. I’ll just check the hem of your dress one more time before that.”

“Okay.”

Even while replying to the servant who was adjusting her clothes, Idel’s mind was elsewhere.

‘Vilred’s magic power-dampening potion is already in all the food. It’s a potion only effective on magic users, and the only magic users here are Melisa, Vilred, and Sigmund.’

Of course, along with the magic power-dampening potion, the customized potion to expose Melisa’s true identity was also well-prepared. She planned to mix this one directly into a wine glass and hand it to her.

‘I also clearly remember Melisa’s request yesterday to prick the Duke to kill him.’

She had also prepared a method to resist the command, should she be forcibly ordered to do so, let alone grant her request.

‘And, and what else is there…’

Normally, she would have calmly organized her thoughts with a cool, collected head, but today, she felt like her emotions were uniquely overriding her thoughts.

Even if she tried to lecture herself that there was no need to be this nervous, her body honestly revealed her state.

However, just before Idel’s fingers stiffened with tension, a warm hand firmly grasped hers. It was Gianna, who was to enter the hall with Idel.

“Idel, are you all set?”

Gianna, who spoke in a kind voice, was shining especially brightly today.

Wearing a pale yellow dress that matched Idel’s pink one, she whispered softly with a reassuring expression.

“It’s okay, Idel. You can do it. Even if something dangerous happens, I’ll be sure to protect you this time.”

“…Okay.”

Idel had kept her promise to Gianna. The promise not to hide things from her.

‘Honestly, since I’ve twisted the original story this way and that, I feel like I could tell her even the nitty-gritty details now, but…’

Nevertheless, she postponed telling her everything for the absolute contingency. Instead, Idel held Gianna’s hand and brought up the most important matter.

‘I’m going to take down Melisa. I’ve been preparing for this all along.’

It was a shocking statement, but Gianna readily nodded and asked.

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

Idel still remembered the look Gianna had given her at that time. Gianna’s eyes held absolute trust and affection.

The moment she met that unchanging gaze, Idel’s heart gradually calmed down. Gianna, who smiled brightly with an expression very similar to the Duchess, opened her mouth again.

“Besides, I’m not the only one here, am I?”

Sylvia, Diane, Count and Countess Bright, Vilred, Dante, and Sigmund were all here.

Gianna counted off the names on her fingers one by one, then gently shook their clasped hands.

“It will definitely go the way you want it to, Idel.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Thanks to Gianna’s simple comfort, her subtly trembling hand quieted down. Idel nodded lightly at her words and looked into the hall with a sharply honed gaze again. In the hall, the Duke was lightly tapping a glass to attract people’s attention.

“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time to attend. I am also very pleased to be able to host the birthday celebration and debut ball for Idel Clementine, the second daughter of Clementine.”

He spoke calmly, as if receiving people’s attention was natural, and then nodded, continuing his speech.

“There are many things I would like to share… but, after all, we shouldn’t keep the protagonist waiting too long. I introduce to you Idel Clementine, who made this party possible.”

“Let’s go.”

Idel lightly nodded at Gianna’s words and confidently walked into the hall. Along with thunderous applause, people’s gazes were focused on Idel.

The dress, made with the utmost effort by the dress shop, lightly fluttered whenever Idel moved. She lightly swept her long, flowing red hair back with one hand and faced the people with a dignified expression.

“Hello, I greet you for the first time. I am Idel Clementine.”

Idel’s clear voice filled the hall. Lightly scanning the nobles who were looking at her, Idel opened her mouth again.

“Although the Duke has already offered his thanks, thank you for joining me for my debut. Today is an especially special and meaningful day. I would be grateful if you could all bear witness.”

It was a bold statement for a first greeting in society. People were momentarily flustered by the unique choice of words, but Idel didn’t mind.

Leaving the applause that erupted a beat later behind her, Idel picked up the glass prepared for her.

Inside the glass was a drink as red as blood. It was the beverage that all debuting nobles drank as a ritual.

Idel calmly tilted the glass and emptied all the drink contained within.

The people who had been watching the sight wide-eyed, whispered softly to the person next to them.

“Truly, her personality is as unconventional as the rumors say. Both her greeting and emptying the ceremonial glass completely.”

“Indeed. Usually, they just lightly wet their lips and put the glass down.”

“What does she mean by a ‘special and meaningful day’? Surely not that her debut is so special that everyone gathered here will never forget this day…?”

“No way. It must just be a metaphor. And the word ‘witness’ probably means to pay close attention to her from now on, don’t you think?”

Amidst the growing whispers of people here and there, Idel raised her hand toward the musicians. It was a sign for them to start playing again.

The orchestra, reading Idel’s signal, immediately began the prepared performance. As the sweet music once again filled the hall, people’s eyes turned back to Idel.

They were immensely curious about whom Idel would approach first to greet.

A debut held at the age of ten was literally an event set up so that young nobles could make an impression on socialites.

Therefore, unlike a coming-of-age ceremony where men and women paired up and asked each other to dance, it was customary for the debut’s protagonist to walk around the party hall with a glass and flowers, exchanging greetings.

The end of the debut was also simpler compared to a coming-of-age ceremony.

The protagonist of the debut would greet everyone, then ask one person to dance, and when that song ended, the party’s official schedule would conclude.

‘Therefore, people are naturally curious about the person the protagonist greets first and the person they ask to dance last.’

Especially since both the Crown Prince, Sigmund, and Dante, the next successor of the Duke of Knightley, were present.

People’s gazes, full of interest, were fixed on the three of them.

‘Who will the second daughter of the Clementine Ducal House choose first, between status and acquaintance?’

However, Idel was unconcerned by the gazes full of curiosity and moved her feet. The person she went to greet first was none other than Melisa.

“Goodness, Idel. Why come to your mother first?”

“Uh-huh, no. Still, I wanted to give my first greeting to my mother… no, to former Countess Melisa!”

The sound of people gasping in surprise at the unexpected greeting could be heard here and there. Occasionally, there were coughs as if someone had choked.

“…Even so, I never imagined she would approach her birth mother for her first greeting.”

“This will compromise the Duchess of Clementine’s prestige…”

Idel smiled even more innocently, using the people’s whispers as background noise. Then, she offered Melisa the flowers and the glass containing the drink.

“Former Countess Melisa, you’ll drink with me, won’t you?”

“It’s the first toast offered by our Ducal Young Lady. Of course. I must.”

She lifted the glass with the hand not holding the flowers, giving Idel a soft, eye-smiling look as if she were being affectionate.

The sound of the two glasses clinking echoed clearly through the space.

Watching Melisa drink the beverage out of the corner of her eye, Idel pulled the corners of her mouth into a soft smile.

On her hand, which was gripping the glass, a small, flower-shaped ring with a wet sheen subtly sparkled.

It was a ring with a removable lid that Idel had acquired through Count Bright.